Operation Business Plan. Let’s get started on your marketing plan!
Your marketing plan is your message and your plan for getting the word out. What is it that you want to communicate to potential buyers? How will you tell them?
This post is part of a series on writing your business plan. Subscribe to my mailing list to get instant access to download the free Wonder Thinking Business Plan-o-Rama workbook and get working on your business plan!
1. Your Message
We’ve looked at your markets, your products’ features and benefits, your ideal customer, and your competition. Now let’s pull all of that information together and figure out your message, your Unique Selling Proposition (USP).
Your message is your response to your potential buyer’s question: What’s in it for me?
Why should they buy your product? Why should they buy it from you? Answer this in a couple of sentences.
Your business plan is something of a survey– touching on many important aspects of your business. Your marketing message and your USP are subjects that could invite long discussions and textbooks of information. With this business plan, feel free dive as deeply as you please in any subject, but try to avoid overwhelm. The point is to think a bit on each area, get something written down, and move on. A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.
2. Getting the Word Out
How will you get the word out to your customers?
Are you blogging about your products?
Do you have a mailing list?
Do you have a press kit? And a plan to contact bloggers and media outlets?
Can you align your product promotions to publications’ editorial calendars? (When are editors looking for St. Patrick’s Day products for features?)
Will you use paid ads on blogs or in print? What is your budget?
Will you use social media? Facebook? Twitter? Flickr?
What other methods will you use to get the word out about your business and products?
I’m working on my business plan along with you. How’s it going? Let me know in the comments.
If this series is helpful to you, please share on twitter or facebook. Thank you!
Image: After the Rain. Original photograph by Tricia McKellar. ©2008 All rights reserved.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
wow, I love this blog! I have found very useful information! Thank you and hope to read you tomorrow;)
Thanks Tricia! Your guide has really helped me, I’ve blazed through the first couple sections and now I’m doing more research on the competition. ;)
Trude´s last [type] ..Oh- For the Love of Etsy
You’ve recently inspired me to add a media kit to my blog site! Thanks!
The information is really making me take a serious look at my business. I am taking a deeper look at where I want to be and how to get there. Thanks.